FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, file photo, specialist Gregg Maloney works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The stock market had a banner year overall, but there were plenty of big winners, and big losers, among individual U.S. companies in 2017. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Trader William McInerney, center, works at the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Maria Averna, a lead supervisor for New York Stock Exchange Operations, monitors trading at the exchange, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

ANALYST'S TAKE: "Recent strength in the U.S. economy was on display in the December Consumer Confidence Index released last night. Although it fell below the stellar readings of November and December, the trend remains strong," Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets, said in a daily commentary. "This bodes well for a solid base to consumer spending in 2018."

US CONSUMERS: The Conference Board, a business research group, said Wednesday that its consumer confidence index dipped to 122.1 in December from a revised 128.6 in November. The reading shows consumers' expectations still remain at historically strong levels that hinted continued economic growth into 2018.

SOUTH KOREA: Government data showed that retail sales jumped 5.6 percent in November from the previous month, the highest jump in several years, while industrial output at Asia's fourth-largest economy rebounded last month.

WALL STREET: Most U.S. stocks markets finished with modest gains on Wednesday after another quiet trading. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 0.1 percent to 2,682.62. The Dow Jones industrial average added 0.1 percent to 24,774.30. The Nasdaq rose 0.04 percent to 6,939.34. But the Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks lost 0.02 percent to 1,543.94.

OIL: Benchmark U.S. crude added 14 cents to $59.78 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract dropped 33 cents to settle at $59.64 a barrel on Wednesday. Brent crude, which is used to price international oils, gained 9 cents to $66.08 per barrel in London.

CURRENCIES: The dollar weakened to 113.16 yen from 113.23 yen. The euro strengthened to $1.1911 from $1.1897.